Can anyone explain why ponting is so reluctant to bowl Macgill ? Does anyone think it is due to a loyalty to Warne ?

It's not just Ponting though, is it? It's the selectors as well. It doesn't matter how many wickets MacGill gets, if they decide they only want one spinner, Warne is ALWAYS first choice. In the 11 test matches where they've both played together, MacGill has taken 60 wickets to Warne's 48 and at a much better average. Warne is undeniably a far better batsman and fielder than MacGill, but as far as bowling ability goes, I don't think Warne should automatically be first choice.

I was always asking myself why McGill was so often overlooked until I read a snippet in the paper about the post-match celebrations in the dressing room......it turns out that McGill will celebrate with a nice cool glass of....WINE!
Surely the rest of the team can't trust him!

I AM SO GLAD that Lara has come good as I predicted but I am ****ED OFF that it is one test too late to influence my bank balance. Oh well, I'm going to enjoy this test anyway. Cheers to all.
PS you can trust me...I'll drink anything!

I notice that the aussies are still very short to win this test IAS has them at 1.38 which IMO is a bit short.


Think they will probably still win but it is hard to win batting 2nd when opponents make 400 odd batting first.

I can't believe the odds!!! A team in the West Indies' position would normally be nothing like the price they are at the moment. I assume the bookies just aren't willing to risk it given what's happened earlier in the series and I suppose they don't believe that the West Indies can bowl Australia out twice.

I love it. I was really hoping that Lara brought something this series and that the windies stood up (I want em to win actually). Sad that the windies aren't the threat they used to be.

Well, you probably didn't have to sit through all those tests in the 80s when they absolutely thrashed us. I don't think it's sad!

"Well, you probably didn't have to sit through all those tests in the 80s when they absolutely thrashed us"

No, wasn't really aware of sports other than league before I was 8. And we were in the 90s by that stage

But that's one thing I love about the rugby, it's so competitve. No team will ever be so good that someone else can't beat them. We're in a slump right now and even SA and ABs couldn't beat us easily. And when we're at our best, it'll still always be a match vs the ABs. Ah rugby is great.

Looks like the cricket is going to be a "anything you can do, we can do better". Shame.

Just a "slump"??? They're an embarassment!!! Jones and Gregan should have been given the boot two years ago. Why are they still there?

Hope you took the terrific odds about the Welsh. The 13.5 start was incredible!!!

What odds were the West Indies before this game began???